NCERT MCQ Solutions for Class 8 English It So Happened Chapter 3 The Selfish Giant

The beautiful garden, with its fruit trees and flowers, represents a paradise or an Eden-like state of innocence, which naturally attracts the pure-heartedness of children.

The Giant’s long visit to an ogre establishes his association with monstrous, unfriendly beings, contrasting sharply with the innocent children who later transform his character.

The wall is a powerful symbol of the Giant’s selfishness and his desire to isolate himself. It physically manifests his emotional barrier against sharing and companionship.

The perpetual winter in the garden is a form of pathetic fallacy, where nature mirrors the Giant’s cold, selfish heart. The lack of seasons symbolizes a barren, joyless existence.

The personification of natural elements like Snow and North Wind turns them into active characters. This literary device emphasizes the bleakness and hostility of the garden’s state.

A bird’s song is a classic literary symbol of hope and the return of life. For the Giant, it marks the first crack in his emotional winter.

The children re-entering through a small hole symbolizes how innocence and love can find a way through even the strongest barriers of selfishness, initiating change.

This single wintry corner highlights that the garden’s transformation is incomplete. It requires a direct act of kindness from the Giant to bring life back to this spot.

Knocking down the wall is a symbolic act of redemption. The Giant physically removes the barrier he created, signifying his change of heart and openness to love.

The child’s kiss is a symbol of unconditional love and forgiveness. This simple act of affection is what truly melts the Giant’s selfish heart and begins his transformation.

The boy’s mysterious disappearance elevates him from a normal child to a supernatural or allegorical figure. His absence creates a sense of longing and mystery for the Giant.

The Giant’s peaceful old age, spent watching children play, signifies his complete redemption. He finds true happiness not in ownership, but in sharing his garden with others.

The blossoming tree in winter is a miracle, symbolizing divine approval and the return of the special child. It defies the natural order, much like the Giant’s transformation.

The nail wounds are an example of Christian allegory, identifying the boy as a Christ-like figure. These marks are symbolic of sacrifice, love, and redemption in Christian theology.

The boy’s garden, “Paradise,” is a metaphor for heaven. The Giant’s reward for his selfless love is an invitation to eternal peace and joy, completing his redemptive journey.

The Giant’s death under the tree, covered in blossoms, is a peaceful and beautiful end. The blossoms symbolize his soul’s purity and his acceptance into paradise.

The Giant’s death occurs in winter, but in a place of miraculous spring. This juxtaposition symbolizes the triumph of life and love over the coldness of death.

By calling the children “the most beautiful flowers,” the Giant shows his complete change in perspective. He now values living beings more than his own material possessions.

Oscar Wilde was a prominent Irish writer known for his wit and his collection of fairy tales for children, which often contain deep moral and allegorical meanings.

The central theme is redemption through love and compassion. The story teaches that selfishness leads to isolation, while sharing and kindness bring joy, life, and ultimately, salvation.